LEE COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) - The Lee County Sheriff’s Office made multiple arrests in connection to the January Smoke City raid.

According to a Facebook post, in March 2024, the sheriff’s office opened an investigation into the Smoke City shop on U.S. Highway 19 South. This was in response to complaints that marijuana was being distributed from the business.

Investigators utilized a variety of investigative techniques including surveillance and the use of undercover officers to conduct multiple controlled purchases of suspected marijuana products from the business. During the investigation, investigators also obtained evidence concerning an employee involved in illegal cash payouts from the Coin Operated Amusement Machines inside the business, which is a violation of Georgia’s commercial gambling law.

After the preliminary investigation, police identified the business owners as Nishantkumar Patel and Heena Patel of Warner Robins, Ga. They identified the employees as Karianna Casanova, Jayeshbhai Raval, and Vijaykumar Thakor.

On Jan. 15, the sheriff’s office obtained arrest warrants for all five people. They were each charged with:

• One count of Commercial Gambling in violation of OCGA 16-12-22
• One count of Keeping a Gambling Place in violation of OCGA 16-12-23
• One count of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance (Marijuana) in violation of OCGA 16-13-30(b)

Casanova and Raval were each also charged with one count of Distribution of a Controlled Substance (Marijuana) in violation of OCGA 16-13-30(b)

Thakor was charged with four counts of Distribution of a Controlled Substance (Marijuana) in violation of OCGA 16-13-30(b), one count of Commercial Gambling in violation of OCGA 16-12-22, and one count of Keeping a Gambling Place in violation of OCGA 16-12-23.

Investigators executed a search warrant on Jan. 15 at the business where they located and seized about 4.3 pounds of suspected marijuana, cash, business records, digital video recording equipment, and samples of suspected “liquid THC.”

During the search warrant operation, investigators arrested Thakor who was operating the business at the time. He was placed under arrest on his outstanding warrants and taken to the Lee County Jail for processing and detention.

Investigators determined that Thakor was an undocumented immigrant with no legal immigration status in the United States.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was notified of his arrest and he was later released to ICE for the deportation process after he posted bond from the Lee County Jail.

Later in the day, Lee County Sheriff’s Office Uniform Patrol Deputies made contact with Nishantkumar at the business. He was arrested on his outstanding warrants and taken to the Lee County Jail for processing and detention.

On Jan. 16, Casanova was arrested by the Albany Police Department on her outstanding warrants. She was later taken to the Lee County Jail for processing and detention.

On Jan. 17, Heena turned herself into authorities at the Lee County Jail on her outstanding warrants.

Nishantkumar, Heena, and Casanova have all since been released on bond, according to the sheriff’s office.

The sheriff’s office said Raval has not yet been arrested, his warrant remains active and outstanding. His location is currently unknown.

The sheriff’s office is asking for the public’s help in locating him.

“We would like to remind the public that recreational marijuana is illegal in Georgia. We encourage anyone engaged in criminal activity to stay out of Lee County,” the post said.

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